Activated amusement device



Sept. 4, 1945.

A. M. HILLERY ACTIVATED AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed June 10, 1944 4s. AMUSEMEPatented Sept. 4, 1945 Search Room UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an amusement or advertising device.

Objects of the invention include the provision of a device of the classdescribed embodying a construction for obtaining motion without the useof any externally applied power or heat except for the heat ordinarilyencountered at room temperatures; the provision of an amusement deviceor the like which is adapted to be pivoted in conjunction with a fluidreceptacle and embodying means providing for pivoting or swinging motionthereof so that a part will dip into the fluid receptacle thus obtainingliquid for the purpose of cooling a part of the device by vaporizationfor the continued operation thereof at room temperatures; and anamusement or advertising device as above described comprising a pair ofhermetically sealed bulbs connected by a tube an extension of whichprojects into one of the bulbs, the latter bulb containing a fluid whichboils or vaporizes rapidly at room temperature, the other bulb havingsecured thereto a fluid absorbing material, the device being set on apivot so that vaporization of the fluid in the bulb will cause the fluidto rise in the tube, over-balance the same so as to dip the fluidabsorbing material into a liquid for the purpose of condensing thevaporized fluid to cause a continuous pivoting motion of the device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is aview in elevation showing the device as it appears in operation;

Fig, 2 is a top plan view of the same with parts omitted; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation with parts omitted.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing for the purposes ofillustrating the invention, there is shown a tube l which may be ofglass, plastic, or other material, and which connects with a closed bulbl2 which is herein referred to as the upper bulb and also to a lowerbulb I4. The tube l0 opens into bulb I2 without interference but it isclosed ofl from lower bulb I by using an extension of the tube as shownat IS, the latter extending down into the lower bulb I 4 almost but notquite to the bottom thereof as illustrated at I8.

A fluid is located in the device and as shown in Fig. 1 this fluid willobviously collect in the lower part of the bottom bulb I 4. However, theparticular fluid used is one that will boil or vaporize quickly atordinary room temperatures and one of the fluids acceptable for thepurpose is acetone,

although I do not limit the invention to this particular material. Anyfluid having a very low boiling point can be utilized to carry out theinvention. The two bulbs and connecting tube may be exhausted tofacilitate the action.

There is provided a liquid absorbing covering for the upper bulb asindicated at 20 and this covering may take the form of, for instance,the head of an animal, or human being, as shown. In any case this head,which may .be of cloth, is provided with a protruding part 22 for apurpose to be described, part 22 simulating a tongue, nose, or beak, asthe case may be.

It is intended that this device shall be used in conjunction with areceptacle as for instance shown at 24 and an ordinary water tumbler orthe like will be satisfactory for this purpose. There is provided abracket for securing the amusement device to the fluid receptacle andthis bracket is provided with a pair of legs 26 which extend down ateither side of the receptacle to secure the bracket in position. A pairof arms 28 extend outwardly from legs 26 and provide a pivot point as bymeans of hooks 30. The tube itself is provided with a wire pivot 32which may be secured thereto by any desired means, but as illustratedthis wire is wound around a resilient collar 34 and extends laterallyoutwardly as shown for instance in Fig. 3 to rest in the hooks 30 sothat the entire device is pivotable on the bracket 26, 28.

In the operation of the device the part 20 is wetted to provide coolingfor the upper bulb I 2.

The liquid in the bottom bulb M will start to vaporize and create apressure in the space above the liquid in the bulb l4. As this pressureincreases the liquid is forced up the extension l6 into the tube 10 andup into the bulb l2 whereupon the weight of the liquid will cause theentire device to tilt in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. When thisoccurs the projection 22 will dip into the water or other liquid in thefluid receptacle 24 and will thus keep the liquid absorbing material at20 constantly in a. wet condition to condense the vapor in bulb 12.

In any case as the tube 1 0 approaches the horizontal, the bottom of theextension tube IE will be uncovered and the liquid will merely run downback into the bottom bulb l4 thus tilting the device back to itsoriginal position. As the liquid runs down the tube, any liquid whichhas condensed in bulb l2 will likewise run back down. It is to be notedthat the fluid contained in the fluid absorbing material 20 will add tothe weight of the device above the pivot point. When the part 20 is drythe tube will remain upright in the Fig. 1 position but when the part 20is wet it will tilt slightly to the left in Fig. 1 due to theunbalancing efiect of the protuberance 22 and this will insure thepivoting of the device towards the fluid receptacle 24.

The speed with which the device oscillates is determined to some degreeby the position of the pivot at 32 lengthwise to II). That is, byunbalancing the weights above and below the pivot the simulated animalwill seem to take a longer drink or a shorter drink depending upon thelocation of the pivot.

It is to be noted that continuous motion is here obtained with only suchheat as is usually found at room temperatures. However, as long as theprotuberance 22 dips into the fluid container 24 the device willcontinue to operate and thus it will be seen that it is only necessaryto replace evaporated fluid for continuous operation.

Having thus described by invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a tube, a bulb axially located atone end of the tube having free communication therewith, a second bulbat the other end of the tube, said tube extending into said second bulb,highly volatile liquid in said second bulb, fluid absorbing materialassociated with the first bulb, a protuberance extending outwardly fromsaid water absorbing material, a pivot for the tube, said tube moving toa substantially vertical position when the liquid is in the second bulband said protuberance overbalancing the tube when the liquid isvolatilized and rises above the pivot.

2. In a device of the class described in combination with a fluidreceptacle, a bracket adapted to be mounted on the receptacle, a tubepivoted on the bracket, a bulb at each end of the tube, said tubeextending into one of the said bulbs, the latter containing highlyvolatile liquid, fluid absorbing material arranged on the other bulb,said material extending substantially to the side thereof toward thefluid receptacle, said tube and one bulb normally depending below thebracket.

3. A device of the class described comprising a pair of bulbs, a tubeentering one bulb and terminating in an open end adjacent a wall of thesaid one bulb, the tube communicating freely with the other bulb, aquantity of highly volatile liquid in the one bulb, a pivot for thetube, said liquid tending to maintain the tube substantially vertical,absorbent material on the said other bulb, and a projection extendinglaterally from said other bulb, said projection having a weightinsufflcient to pivot the tube until a major portion of the liquid inthe one bulb enters the tube and said other bulb so as to be above thepivot, said tube maintaining a pressure seal in said one bulb untiluncovered by the pivoting of the tube.

ARTHUR M. HILLERY.

